Young boys from Eritrea in the San Martino a Rebbio parish playground

Many unaccompanied minors leave Eritrea and arrive to Europe to flee the compulsory military service for indefinite time from 17 years of age
They arrive in Como after a long obstacle course, and have been exposed to constant risk, or they have witnessed or experienced torture and violence along the migration route, mainly in Libya.
For most of them, the objective is to reach Germany or Sweden, but they remain stuck at the border without any alternative. Border closure and pushbacks worsen even more their already deep vulnerabilities as unaccompanied minors in an unknown country.
Médécins Sans Frontières-MSF has started a psychological support activity to cope with trauma and post -traumatic stress lot of minors have, as a consequence of the perilous journey they undertook or of the deep frustration they are experiencing.

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Migrants on the move: Psychological support on Italy's northern border

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF182148

Date taken / Date Recorded 30/11/2016 12:00 AM

Country Italy

Photographer / videographer / producer Giuseppe La Rosa

Copyright Giuseppe La Rosa/MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) Advertising Campaign, External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★★ (C)

Maximum Size 5760px × 3840px 10.44 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Because of the challenging humanitarian conditions of migrants in transit at the Northern borders of Italy, Médécins Sans Frontières-MSF has carried out an assessment of the main psychological needs in the field. It has emerged a strong need to intervene with psychological support in favor of migrants in transit at the main border points.
In Como, a team of cultural mediators and a psychologist has started to provide mental health support to migrants in transit in the city, mainly hosted in the local Red Cross camp (around 275 people) and at the San Martino in Rebbio parish, where the priest opened the doors to people who would otherwise sleep on the street. Here every night almost 40 people find shelter, in addition to a group of unaccompanied minors and single women who live here permanently.
Sheltering and food is provided to migrants thanks to a strong network of volunteers, with whom MSF coordinates to provide psychological services for the most vulnerable cases.